The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is set to convene an emergency Congress in Abuja following the reported resignation of President Ibrahim Musa Gusau and several members of the federation’s Executive Committee.

The development marks a dramatic escalation of the leadership crisis that has engulfed Nigerian football in recent weeks, with Congress delegates reportedly invited to attend the emergency meeting. Blueprint reports

The emergency Congress is expected to deliberate on the implications of the reported resignations and determine the next steps for the administration of Nigerian football.

The crisis comes barely weeks before the NFF’s scheduled elective Congress, with the federation already under intense scrutiny following a series of setbacks involving the country’s national teams.

Pressure mounts on nff leadership

Pressure on the Gusau-led administration intensified after the Super Falcons suffered a historic setback by failing to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Nigeria had featured at every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the tournament began in 1991. The failure to secure qualification therefore triggered widespread criticism from football stakeholders, supporters and former administrators.

The development also followed Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, meaning the Super Eagles will miss the global tournament for the second consecutive edition.

The twin setbacks increased calls for accountability and major reforms in the management of Nigerian football.

Earlier in August, the NFF responded by inaugurating a fact-finding committee to investigate the root causes of the country’s recent poor performances and make recommendations on how to address the problems.

Fanny Amun quits fact-finding committee

The controversy surrounding the administration of Nigerian football took another turn when former NFF General Secretary, Ambassador Fanny Amun, resigned as chairman of the fact-finding committee shortly after submitting its report.

Amun explained that he stepped down to protect the integrity and independence of the committee’s findings.

According to him, he deliberately completed the assignment ahead of the two-week deadline because he did not want the report to be subjected to external influence before it was submitted to the federation.

The committee was inaugurated on August 17 following the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the Women’s World Cup and was tasked with examining the direct and remote causes of Nigeria’s recent disappointing performances.

The report has since emerged as another major point of interest in the unfolding crisis, with fresh reports indicating that the committee raised fundamental questions about the structure and administration of Nigerian football.

Resignation of board members

The reported resignation of Gusau follows weeks of pressure on the NFF Executive Committee.

Earlier reports indicated that a significant number of members of the 13-member board had resigned, bringing the federation close to a situation in which the board could no longer continue in its existing form.

The latest development now reportedly involves Gusau himself and several other members of the Executive Committee.

NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, has also reportedly resigned from his position amid the leadership shake-up. Sanusi was quoted as confirming that his resignation, as well as that of Gusau, was genuine.

The departure of both the federation’s president and chief administrative officer would represent one of the most significant leadership disruptions in the history of the NFF.

₦17bn fund under scrutiny

The leadership crisis has also unfolded against the backdrop of scrutiny over the management of funds allocated to Nigerian national teams.

Reports indicate that security agencies have been examining the utilisation of a ₦17 billion Federal Government intervention fund approved in 2024 to clear outstanding payments owed to players and other members of the national teams.

The investigation has added another layer to the pressure facing the NFF leadership, with calls for transparency and accountability in the administration of football finances.

Emergency Congress crucial

The emergency Congress in Abuja is therefore expected to be a critical moment for Nigerian football.

Congress delegates could be required to address the leadership vacuum created by the reported resignations and determine the appropriate mechanism for running the federation pending the emergence of a new leadership structure.

The meeting could also have implications for the NFF electoral process.

The federation had scheduled its elective Congress for September 27 in Lafia, Nasarawa State. The reported resignation of the president and several Executive Committee members has, however, raised fresh questions over whether the election can proceed as originally planned or whether new arrangements will be required.

Search for a new direction

Beyond the immediate leadership question, the emergency Congress comes at a time when stakeholders are demanding deeper reforms in Nigerian football.

The recent failures of the Super Eagles and Super Falcons have exposed concerns extending beyond individual matches, with issues surrounding administration, player welfare, coaching, development structures and football governance increasingly coming under scrutiny.

The fact-finding committee was expected to provide a roadmap for addressing some of these challenges, while the resignation of its chairman immediately after submitting the report has further heightened attention on its recommendations.

With the reported resignation of Gusau and several members of his Executive Committee now triggering an emergency Congress, Nigerian football appears to be entering a new phase.

What Congress decides in Abuja could determine whether the current crisis leads to a temporary transition or becomes the beginning of a wider restructuring of the country’s football administration.